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From the critics

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The original version remains, in my mind, the most surrealistic, mesmerizing movie I can remember. Recut adds superfluous exposition, which compromises pace, and tacks an unnecessary 45 minutes on an already too long film. I have never been able to find a version with the ending I saw in the theater, where Kurtz's compound is incinerated by an air strike as closing credits roll.

Both versions of the film are excellent, there were only two parts in particular that I felt were mostly pointless compared to the rest of the story. The second meeting with the Playboy playmates was pretty pointless, whatever job it was trying to do, I'm not very certain, another scene(s) was when the group visits the French plantation, maybe it's just me, but am I the only one who finds it odd to see these characters on the shore for so long? It just seemed really out of place, but on the flip side, added scenes with Kurtz are big upgrade, like an added scene were he visits Willard in is holding cell, the CONEX, with a copy of TIME magazine telling him about America's success in the war. Dollar for Dollar Redux has some great scenes and ones that drag it down a little, while the original had none such scenes like that, so when it comes down to it, the original might be the one to watch first, but the hopelessly anal completionists like me, you should also watch Redux as well.

This version is lumbering, redundant and boring. It is a shame and a far cry from the original cut. Recommended for the die-hard fans only, but if you have seen the original, stay away from this pompous remake. What was the director thinking?